Great Fishing In Wisconsin

Guide to fishing in the Badger State

Major Lakes & Species
Lake Sizes & Locations
Wisconsin Fish Species & State Records

Wisconsin is a paradise for anglers, offering a diverse array of fish species and fishing opportunities across its many lakes, rivers, and ponds. The purpose of this page is to share basic information about the best fishing lakes in the state, plus the species found in each lake.

One of the highlights of Wisconsin fishing is the variety of species that can be targeted. In the warm water fisheries, anglers can pursue popular game fish such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, muskie, and panfish like bluegill and crappie. These species provide thrilling angling experiences and are known for their fighting abilities and delicious table fare.

Wisconsin is also renowned for its cold water fisheries, particularly its trout and salmon populations. Anglers can find rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout, and various species of salmon, including Chinook and coho salmon. These species thrive in the state's pristine rivers, streams, and cold-water lakes, attracting anglers from far and wide who seek the challenge of catching these elusive and highly prized fish.

In addition to its abundant lakes and rivers, Wisconsin is dotted with numerous ponds and smaller bodies of water that offer excellent fishing opportunities. These smaller water bodies can be home to various species, including bass, panfish, and even trout, providing a more intimate fishing experience.

Whether you choose to fish in the vast expanses of Wisconsin's lakes, explore its meandering rivers, or try your luck in secluded ponds, the state offers something for every angler. It's important to familiarize yourself with fishing regulations and obtain the necessary licenses before venturing out. Additionally, practicing catch-and-release and responsible fishing techniques can help ensure the sustainability of Wisconsin's fish populations for future generations to enjoy.

The state of Wisconsin offers plenty of bass fishing, walleye, crappie, perch, catfish and some ice fishing in the winter. And, you have all kinds of water to fish including ponds, streams, rivers, lakes and access to both Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. Here, you can fish for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, lake trout, bluegill, green sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, warmouth, white bass, white perch, yellow bass, yellow perch, Atlantic salmon, chinook salmon, coho salmon, kokanee salmon, pink salmon, stripers, bowfin, longnose gar, muskie, northern pike, sauger, saugeye, sturgeon and tiger muskie in local lakes, rivers, ponds and/or streams. Many of these species can be taken in winter while ice fishing.

Major Wisconsin Lakes & Species

Lake & Fish Chart

This chart shows the major angling destinations, cross referencing these waters with the major species to be found in each of the lakes or impoundments. Many of these lakes offer fishing boats for rent.

For a detailed list of primary fish species in WI, plus state fish records, see the list below.

Fishing lake sizes and locations in the state.

Beaver Dam Lake is a 6,500-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Beaver Dam.

Big Eau Pleine Reservoir is a 6,800-acre lake in the central part of the state, at Stratford.

Castle Rock Lake is a 14,000-acre lake in the central part of the state, at Necedah.

Fence Lake is a 3,500-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Lac du Flambeau.

Geneva Lake is a 5,300-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Lake Geneva.

Gile Flowage is a 3,400-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Montreal.

Green Lake is a 7,300-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Green Lake.

Grindstone Lake is a 3,100-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Hayward.

Holcombe Flowage is a 3,900-acre reservoir in the central part of the state, at Holcombe.

Lac Courte Oreilles is a 5,000-acre lake in the northwest corner of Wisconsin, 10 miles south of Hayward.

Lac Vieux Desert is a 4,300-acre lake on the northeastern border of the state, at Land O Lakes.

Lake Butte des Morts is an 8,800-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Oshkosh.

Lake Chetac is a 1,900-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Birchwood.

Lake Chippewa is a 15,300-acre lake in the north-central part of WI, 10 miles east of Hayward.

Lake du Bay is a 6,700-acre lake in the central part of the state, at Knowlton.

Lake Kegonsa is a 3,200-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Stoughton.

Lake Koshkonong is a 10,500-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Fort Atkinson.

Lake Michigan is a 22,400 square-mile lake running along the eastern border of Wisconsin.

Lake Monona is a 9,800-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Madison.

Lake Mendota is a 10,000-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Madison.

Lake Onalaska is a 7,600-acre lake on the western border of Wisconsin, at La Crosse.

Lake Pepin is a 25,000-acre lake on the western border of the state, at Stockholm.

Lake Poygan is a 14,000-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Winneconne.

Lake Puckaway is a 5,000-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Marquette.

Lake Superior is a 31,820 square-mile lake running along the northern western border of WI.

Lake Tomahawk is a 3,400-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Lake Tomahawk.

Lake Winnebago is a 135,000-acre lake in the southeastern part of the state, at Fon Du Lac.

Lake Wisconsin is a 9,500-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Merrimac.

Lake Wissota is a 6,300-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, at Chippewa Falls.

Long Lake is a 3,300-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, at Madge.

Namekagon Lake is a 3,200-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Namekagon.

Pelican Lake is a 3,600-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Pelican Lake.

Petenwell Lake is a 23,000-acre lake in the central part of the state, at Necedah.

Pewaukee Lake is a 2,400-acre lake in southeast Wisconsin, 5 miles north of Waukesha.

Rainbow Flowage is a 2,000-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Germain.

Shawano Lake is a 6,100-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Shawano.

Shell Lake is a 2,600-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, at Shell Lake.

Trout Lake is a 3,900-acre lake in north-central Wisconsin, 10 miles north of Woodruff.

Turtle Flambeau Flowage is a 19,000-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Mercer.

Willow Reservoir is a 6,400-acre lake in the north-central part of WI, 6 miles southwest of Hazelhurst.

Click the images and links above for species details.

State of WI Fishing Information

Buy a Wisconsin Fishing License.

For additional information about fishing in WI visit the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources website.

Tow Wisconsin Fisherman fishing at Sunset.

See section dedicated to activities for kids in WI.

Fish for big bass

Excellent smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing opportunities are available to anglers.

Fishing in all states

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